Word Origin & History

bevy early 15c., collective noun of quails and ladies, from Anglo-Fr. bevée, of unknown origin. One supposed definition of the word is "a drinking bout," but this is perhaps a misprint of bever, from O.Fr. beivre (see beverage). Still, it's possible that the original sense could be a company of birds gathered at a puddle or pool for drinking or bathing.

Example Sentences for bevy

One day, to the beating of drums, a bevy of priests came from afar; they made for the market-place and there sold indulgences.

They scuttled into the nearest seats at hand like a bevy of startled partridges.

As she was about to move toward the door the elevator, like a great cornucopia, spilled a bevy of men and women into the lobby.

When he came on shipboard he was accompanied by a bevy of courtesans.

I vividly recall the bewildering onslaught of our mother leading a bevy of church ladies in search of the missing.

No bevy of ladies, no merry parties, no pageants worthy of the name.

The women especially looked like a bevy of bright flowers in their gay attire.

At that they laughed, and said they must choose him a bevy of fair women.

And after that none of the bevy had dared to broach the subject to Virginia.